Folic acid ameliorates depression-like behaviour in a rat model of chronic unpredictable mild stress.
Animals
Antidepressive Agents
/ administration & dosage
Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation
/ administration & dosage
Behavior, Animal
/ drug effects
Biogenic Monoamines
/ metabolism
Brain
/ drug effects
Citalopram
/ administration & dosage
Depression
/ etiology
Disease Models, Animal
Folic Acid
/ administration & dosage
Homocysteine
/ blood
Male
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Stress, Psychological
/ complications
Chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS)
Depression-like behaviour
Folic acid
Journal
BMC neuroscience
ISSN: 1471-2202
Titre abrégé: BMC Neurosci
Pays: England
ID NLM: 100966986
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
15 01 2020
15 01 2020
Historique:
received:
23
08
2019
accepted:
08
01
2020
entrez:
17
1
2020
pubmed:
17
1
2020
medline:
15
12
2020
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
Depression is characterized by significant and low mood. Classical antidepressants are still not adequate in treating depression because of undesirable side effects. Folic acid, a member of the vitamin B complex, in considered to be strongly associated with the function and development of the central nervous system. Thus, in this study, we established a model of depression through chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) in rats and assessed the antidepressant effects and mechanisms of folic acid. Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: control, chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS), CUMS treated with folic acid, and CUMS treated with citalopram. Rats were assessed in terms of weight change, open-field test and sucrose preference. Homocysteine, monoamine neurotransmitters, interleukin-6, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), β-endorphin levels in the serum and brains of rats were analysed. Folic acid exhibited antidepressant-like effects in open-field and sucrose preference tests. Folic acid treatment effectively increased the levels of monoamine neurotransmitters, BDNF and β-endorphin, interleukin-6 and homocysteine levels were also significantly suppressed by folic acid administration. These findings serve as preclinical evidence that folic acid plays an antidepressant-like role in several pathways involving monoamine neurotransmitters. Thus, folic acid may be used as a potential antidepressant.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
Depression is characterized by significant and low mood. Classical antidepressants are still not adequate in treating depression because of undesirable side effects. Folic acid, a member of the vitamin B complex, in considered to be strongly associated with the function and development of the central nervous system. Thus, in this study, we established a model of depression through chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) in rats and assessed the antidepressant effects and mechanisms of folic acid.
METHODS
Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: control, chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS), CUMS treated with folic acid, and CUMS treated with citalopram. Rats were assessed in terms of weight change, open-field test and sucrose preference. Homocysteine, monoamine neurotransmitters, interleukin-6, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), β-endorphin levels in the serum and brains of rats were analysed.
RESULTS
Folic acid exhibited antidepressant-like effects in open-field and sucrose preference tests. Folic acid treatment effectively increased the levels of monoamine neurotransmitters, BDNF and β-endorphin, interleukin-6 and homocysteine levels were also significantly suppressed by folic acid administration.
CONCLUSIONS
These findings serve as preclinical evidence that folic acid plays an antidepressant-like role in several pathways involving monoamine neurotransmitters. Thus, folic acid may be used as a potential antidepressant.
Identifiants
pubmed: 31941442
doi: 10.1186/s12868-020-0551-3
pii: 10.1186/s12868-020-0551-3
pmc: PMC6961331
doi:
Substances chimiques
Antidepressive Agents
0
Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation
0
Biogenic Monoamines
0
Citalopram
0DHU5B8D6V
Homocysteine
0LVT1QZ0BA
Folic Acid
935E97BOY8
Types de publication
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
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